In the event thatI were to buy a straightforward housein Lewes for cash and dispense with a survey and no conveyancing searches how much would I expect to have to pay for conveyancing in Lewes?

Any savings you would gain will be isolated to the costs for searches. A conveyancer is obliged to do the vast majority of work - money laundering, liaising with the vendors property lawyer, SDLT submission, register the ownership etc. You might save a bit for them not needing to register a charge however it won't be meaningful.

I own a freehold residence in Lewes but still pay rent, why is this and what is this?

It is rare for properties in Lewes and has limited impact for conveyancing in Lewes but some freehold properties in England (particularly common in North West England) pay an annual sum known as a Chief Rent or a Rentcharge to a third party who has no other legal interest in the land.

Rentcharge payments are usually between £2.00 and £5.00 per year. Rentcharges have existed for many centuries, but the Rent Charge Act 1977 barred the establishment of fresh rentcharges post 1977.

Old rentcharges can now be redeemed by making a one off payment under the Act. Any rentcharges that are still in existence in 2037 is to be extinguished.

Do the Building Society Association intend to launch a searchable register to list solicitors on the Melton Mowbray Building Society conveyancing panel for instance in Lewes?

We would not expect to be advised of any intention on the part of the BSA to develop such a search facility.

What can a local search inform me about the house I am buying in Lewes?

Lewes conveyancing often starts with the applying for local authority searches directly from your local Authority or through a personal search company such as Searches UK The local search is essential in every Lewes conveyancing purchase; as long as you don’t want any nasty surprises after you move into your property. The search will reveal information on, amongst other things, details on planning applications relevant to the premises (whether granted or refused), building control history, any enforcement action, restrictions on permitted development, nearby road schemes, contaminated land and radon gas; in all a total of 13 topic headings.

The deeds to our house can not be found. The conveyancers who did the conveyancing in Lewes 5 years ago are no longer around. What are my next steps?

These day there are duplicates made of almost everything, and your lawyer should know exactly where to find all the suitable documentation so you may buy or sell your house without any difficulty. If duplicates can’t be located, your solicitor may be able to put in place insurance or indemnities against future claims on the property.